macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install strongswanlocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew
Install strongswan with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, Nix, pacman, zypper
VPN based on IPsec. Version 6.0.7 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-08.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add py3-viciAlpine Linux edge package indexes · py3-vici · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install charon-cmdDebian stable package indexes · charon-cmd · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install perl-viciFedora Rawhide package metadata · perl-vici · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#strongswannixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/st/strongswan/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S strongswanArch Linux sync databases · strongswan · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install strongswanopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · strongswan · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
VPN based on IPsec
Project links
Commands and aliases
- charon-cmd
- ipsec
- pki
- swanctl
history
Project history and usage
strongSwan is a long-running open source IPsec and IKE implementation used to build policy- and route-based VPNs. In package-manager culture it is a substantial security package: a suite of daemons, plugins, and command-line tools such as `ipsec`, `swanctl`, `pki`, and `charon-cmd` rather than a single small executable.
Project history
The official strongSwan history says the project launched in 2005 as a fork of the discontinued FreeS/WAN project, integrating the X.509 patch its authors had contributed since 2000. The project later replaced inherited FreeS/WAN code with a new modular IKE daemon written in a modern object-oriented C style.
strongSwan initially used the new daemon for IKEv2 while IKEv1 remained handled by an extended FreeS/WAN pluto daemon. Because IKEv2 adoption by other vendors was slower than expected, strongSwan added IKEv1 support to the new daemon in strongSwan 5.0 in 2012 and removed pluto and other legacy components.
Adoption history
The project documents more than 400,000 lines of code, more than 400 automated tests, and more than 110 contributors on its official about page. The input package facts show broad packaging across Homebrew, Debian and Ubuntu components, Fedora, Nix, pacman, APK, and zypper, reflecting its role as infrastructure software rather than a niche CLI.
How it is used
Administrators use strongSwan to configure, control, and monitor IPsec/IKE VPNs. Official documentation describes `swanctl` as the command-line utility for configuring, controlling, and monitoring the IKE charon daemon through the vici interface, while the broader documentation covers configuration files, certificates, kernel integration, and platform-specific builds.
Why package nerds care
Package nerds care about strongSwan because it sits at the intersection of kernel networking, cryptography, service management, plugin selection, and distro policy. Packaging it correctly means handling default configuration paths, private-key directories, optional plugins, service startup, and compatibility across Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, Android, and other supported environments.
Timeline
- 2000: strongSwan authors were contributing an X.509 patch to FreeS/WAN.
- 2005: strongSwan launched as a fork of the discontinued FreeS/WAN project.
- 2012: strongSwan 5.0 added IKEv1 support to the new daemon and removed pluto and other legacy components.
- 2022: secunet Security Networks AG acquired intellectual property rights to the strongSwan project.
Related projects
- FreeS/WAN is the direct ancestor named by the official project history. The official documentation also positions `swanctl`, `charon`, `pki`, and the vici interface as core parts of the modern strongSwan toolchain.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
/etc/strongswan.conf/etc/strongswan.d//etc/swanctl/swanctl.conf/etc/swanctl/conf.d/*.conf
Credential files
Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.
- Unix
/etc/swanctl/private//etc/swanctl/rsa//etc/swanctl/ecdsa//etc/swanctl/pkcs8//etc/swanctl/pkcs12//etc/swanctl/swanctl.conf
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
charon-cmd | cli | global executable | |
ipsec | cli | global executable | |
pki | cli | global executable | |
swanctl | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version6.0.7
manager updated2026-06-08
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://www.strongswan.orgnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:strongswan |
|---|---|
| Version | 6.0.7 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/strongswan |
| Homepage | https://www.strongswan.org |
| Repository | https://github.com/strongswan/strongswan |
| Upstream docs | https://docs.strongswan.org/ |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://download.strongswan.org/strongswan-6.0.7.tar.bz2 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-08T08:40:44Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | openssl@3 |
| Uses from macOS | curl |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
| Caveats | You will have to run both "ipsec" and "charon-cmd" with "sudo". |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | strongswan |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
charon-cmd 6.0.1-6+deb13u5
standalone IPsec client
sudo apt install charon-cmd- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: strongswan
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Strongswan
Debian apt95%
charon-systemd 6.0.1-6+deb13u5
strongSwan IPsec client, systemd support
sudo apt install charon-systemd- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: strongswan
- 5 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Strongswan
Debian apt95%
libcharon-extauth-plugins 6.0.1-6+deb13u5
strongSwan charon library (extended authentication plugins)
sudo apt install libcharon-extauth-plugins- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: strongswan
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Strongswan
Debian apt95%
libcharon-extra-plugins 6.0.1-6+deb13u5
strongSwan charon library (extra plugins)
sudo apt install libcharon-extra-plugins- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: strongswan
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Strongswan
Debian apt95%
libstrongswan 6.0.1-6+deb13u5
strongSwan utility and crypto library
sudo apt install libstrongswan- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: strongswan
- 4 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Strongswan
Debian apt95%
libstrongswan-extra-plugins 6.0.1-6+deb13u5
strongSwan utility and crypto library (extra plugins)
sudo apt install libstrongswan-extra-plugins- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: strongswan
- 8 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Strongswan
Debian apt95%
libstrongswan-standard-plugins 6.0.1-6+deb13u5
strongSwan utility and crypto library (standard plugins)
sudo apt install libstrongswan-standard-plugins- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: strongswan
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Strongswan
Debian apt95%
strongswan 6.0.1-6+deb13u5
IPsec VPN solution metapackage
sudo apt install strongswan- Section: net
- Architecture: all
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Strongswan
Debian apt95%
strongswan-charon 6.0.1-6+deb13u5
strongSwan Internet Key Exchange daemon
sudo apt install strongswan-charon- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: strongswan
- 6 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Strongswan
Debian apt95%
strongswan-libcharon 6.0.1-6+deb13u5
strongSwan charon library
sudo apt install strongswan-libcharon- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: strongswan
- 2 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Strongswan
Debian apt95%
strongswan-nm 6.0.1-6+deb13u5
strongSwan plugin to interact with NetworkManager
sudo apt install strongswan-nm- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: strongswan
- 5 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Strongswan
Debian apt95%
strongswan-pki 6.0.1-6+deb13u5
strongSwan IPsec client, pki command
sudo apt install strongswan-pki- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: strongswan
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Strongswan
Debian apt95%
strongswan-starter 6.0.1-6+deb13u5
strongSwan daemon starter and configuration file parser
sudo apt install strongswan-starter- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: strongswan
- 6 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Strongswan
Debian apt95%
strongswan-swanctl 6.0.1-6+deb13u5
strongSwan IPsec client, swanctl command
sudo apt install strongswan-swanctl- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: strongswan
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Strongswan
Nix95%
strongswan
nix profile install nixpkgs#strongswan- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Strongswan
Ubuntu apt95%
charon-cmd 5.9.13-2ubuntu4
standalone IPsec client
sudo apt install charon-cmd- Section: universe/net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: strongswan
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Strongswan
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment